xp: Yeah, "Lost" describes simultaneous alienation from and comfort from capitalism at the bottom of heap better than just about any song I can think of--it's a warmer "Janie Jones."
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:07 (ten years ago) link
Happy to see "London Calling" this low. It's a cracker, and a classic one at that, but enough is enough.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:16 (ten years ago) link
Higher than I thought it would be tbh. Rock The Casbah should be higher
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:19 (ten years ago) link
13. White Riot - 494 pts - 29 votes
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/831/0yki.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:25 (ten years ago) link
Some songs I thought were Top 10 locks are falling short!
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:27 (ten years ago) link
xpost Post clearance is a different issue. I know the aforementioned Too Much Joy tried to sample the Clash and was denied. Obviously the Beastie Boys pulled it off. Um, Big Audio Dynamite sample the Clash!
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:30 (ten years ago) link
Will Smith borrowed virtually the whole of Casbah, but he rapped about the 'year 2G' in it so I'm cool with it
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:32 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, I always wondered that. Was it super easy for Mick to get the rights to Clash samples, or did he just have to go through the usual channels?
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:32 (ten years ago) link
I remember Joe talking about the "Should I Stay or Should I Go" usage in the Levi's ad, and he said something to the affect of "it was Mick's song so he could do what he wanted with it."
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:35 (ten years ago) link
But he and Strummer share writing credit on that; surely Joe could've nixed it (like John Densmore did with a Doors song not too long ago) ?
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:36 (ten years ago) link
Well he could have, but I think the point was that he felt it was Mick's and so didn't get in the way.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:37 (ten years ago) link
Ah, got it.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:38 (ten years ago) link
xp: By 1990 "This Is Radio Clash" was still getting regular play as a video/track in Danceteria-type clubs like the 9:30 in D.C. and First Avenue in Minneapolis, a perfect bridge for mixing rap, house, industrial, punk, etc. And it got regular play on MTV well past it's release, like into '84 at least. That's an amazing afterlife, when you think about it. The Clash coming out on CD in '88 must have helped.
Samples aren't always the best chart of influence, but I do wonder if ESG playing that Bonds gig the same month as their release of "UFO" helped make that the most sampled punk record of all time.
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:39 (ten years ago) link
12. Clampdown - 521 pts - 25 votes - 1 #1
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2282/h3un.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:40 (ten years ago) link
so good! who is not voting for clampdown? savages
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:42 (ten years ago) link
My #1.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:42 (ten years ago) link
Love the Vanilla Tapes version of "Clampdown," and the Indigo Girls':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0oai2wAj4Q
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:42 (ten years ago) link
I stuck "Clampdown" and "London Calling" at the very end of my ballot because I wanted to throw some weight behind other tracks. They're both amazing though and I felt compelled to include them.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:45 (ten years ago) link
i have cranked out this tune before but a pox on any kind of tactical voting in these polls imo
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:48 (ten years ago) link
It became tactical when there were 50+ deserving songs. Top 15 in order, and then the rest fall as they may.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:49 (ten years ago) link
No vote from me for Clampdown. Probably my least-favourite on the album, never gets going for me.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:50 (ten years ago) link
11. I Fought the Law - 522 pts - 23 votes
http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/6674/fiqd.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 19:59 (ten years ago) link
TOP TEN, PEOPLE. WE'RE TO THE TOP TEN!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:01 (ten years ago) link
Never thought this cover was anything special. They did much better covers than "I Fought The Law"
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:02 (ten years ago) link
if 20-11 had been their top 10 tracks the clash would have every reason to be delighted with themselves. but there are still ten more tracks to come, and another mile of height atop this precarious punk tower of babel.
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:04 (ten years ago) link
i think i fought the law is their best cover, and probably the only one i would say beats the original. the energy of that recording is insane.
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:06 (ten years ago) link
but i didn't vote for any covers, seemed wrong
Yeah, I'm probably partial to The Clash's version of I Fought The Law because it was the first band I heard do the song. Other versions (including the original) sound good. The Clash's sounds great.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:08 (ten years ago) link
Energetic, yes, but doesn't add anything to the Bobby Fuller version's sneer. It doesn't feel like a Clash song the way some of the other covers fit them.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:09 (ten years ago) link
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 4:06 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
^this. I *think* the opening drums (which go from "oh, this'll be fun" to "OH SHIT I better duck") are doubled, but on the live versions, Topper's sound is just as charging and heavy.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:12 (ten years ago) link
I couldn't love I Fought The Law any more than I do, yet it's still only my no.3
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:12 (ten years ago) link
white riot should be higher imo
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:13 (ten years ago) link
no.4 even, what a band
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:13 (ten years ago) link
10. The Guns of Brixton - 540 pts - 24 votes - 1 #1
http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/833/8hzb.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:14 (ten years ago) link
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESS
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:14 (ten years ago) link
GO PAUL GO
nice.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:14 (ten years ago) link
oh! london calling poll winner iirc so expected higher but feels like a good spot for it.
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:15 (ten years ago) link
I forgot it won that poll. It's the highest ranking London Calling track on my ballot so I'm good with it.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:16 (ten years ago) link
Best use of Velcro in music?
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:17 (ten years ago) link
TS: The Guns of Brixton vs Belle and Sebastian's "Expectations"
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:18 (ten years ago) link
Simonon was SO HOT.
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:18 (ten years ago) link
Sometimes I envy the band's energy, but then I think about the copious amount of speed they and every punk band was doing and I don't feel so bad.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:19 (ten years ago) link
"Spanish Bombs" boasts the best mangled Spanish I've ever heard, and it took months before the Internet to decipher it.
― first I think it's time I kick a little verse! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:21 (ten years ago) link
I do appreciate the fact that he sings with a Barcelona accent. It's Spanish-Spanish!
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:22 (ten years ago) link
9. Police on My Back - 541 pts - 26 votes - 1 #1
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1261/zqer.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:25 (ten years ago) link
That's one of the better covers.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:27 (ten years ago) link
reward for all those that did not bail out of Sandinista!
― Mark G, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:28 (ten years ago) link
love this, i thought maybe it had missed out by this point
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:32 (ten years ago) link
I think my #1 missed out. :(
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 20:32 (ten years ago) link